The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-01-12
4 BEGC1LING PROSPERITY.
From the News and Courier.

It is exceedingly gratifying, OF course,
to read the statement made by the Balti-
more Manufacturers Record in evidence
of the wonderful development of manu-
featuring in the South during the past
year. The total increase of investments
in all kinds of enterprises in the South
ern States during 1886 is shown to be
nearly s63,000,000, and it is claimed
with truth, upon the basis of these
figures, that the year which is now
closing has been the most remarkable IN
many respects in the history of the
South.
It Will not escape attention, however,
that the development Of iron manufac-
lures is credited with the employment
of the bulk Of the new capital, about
$50, 900, ,OOG of the total increased invest
ment being divided among the three
States of Virginia, Tennessee AID Ala
bama, while decided falling off is
shown in the States of West Virginia
and Florida. Arkansas, Louisiana, Mis-
sissippi and North Carolina barely hold
their own. There is much ground for
qualification in view of the development
OF the iron industry in the States where
it has taken such a hold, but it would be
far, far better for the South if the devei-
opment were more general and more
equally distributed. The impetus given
to the iron business, it is conceded,
comes from without. and the profits
from that business will largely go out OF
the South. While good deal of money
has doubtless been made by Alabamians
and Tennesseeans, for instance, in dis
posing of their lands, the bulk Of the
profits has gone to spectators who
bought up the lands in large blocks and
at nominal prices. The control Of the
lands, moreover, has passed forever out
Of the hands Of the people who live on
them, and the enterprises which have
been founded by small home capitalists
in the mineral districts are rapidly pass.
ing into the possession of outsiders, as
has been reported in several conspicuous
instances.
Another and certain result OF the great
rapidity with which the production OF
iron in the South is increasing is that
the production Of the same metal IN the
North must be ch4apened enormously
or else the South will eventually monop.
olize the iron industry. 1t is too much
to expect that the iron manufacturers OF
Pennsylvania, for instance, will consent
to have their business crippled in either
way. It is PROBABLE, therefore, that
these Will soon come forward and ask
for lower dutiesAs coal to enable them
to compete succ Euliy with the South.
ern districts; aess when the demand is
maize, the -, ,Iites ard other Pro.
tectionists nl:.kate no longer about
strikRa:; 80 ;anc cslAb;ow at the Alabama
and 6a2,,v 'tu .:,al apd iron mines anG
ironl lYnen,,ffa2t e}fs~s Sthan they would
hesitate now to destroy the sugar IL
duStry OF Louisiana, if the votes of the
Louisiana Representative were moi
courted by their selfish allies.
The very prosperit.s of the iron IL
dustry at the South, Va short, is fatal tc
its continuance. unleA it passes into The
hands of Northern owners, and the new
IL converted Protectionists in the South
ern iron-producing States will find il
the end that they have sold out The true
interest OF the South and of the country
for a prize that will crumble IN thei:
hands, or pass into the hands OF non
residents us soon as it becomes wortl
the taking.